Stroopwafel facts for kids
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A plate of stroopwafels
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| Alternative names | Syrup waffle, treacle waffle, caramel cookie waffle |
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| Type | Waffle |
| Place of origin | Netherlands |
| Region or state | Gouda, South Holland |
| Created by | Gerard Kamphuisen |
| Main ingredients | Batter: flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, eggs Filling: syrup, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon |
A stroopwafel is a super yummy Dutch cookie! It's made from two thin, crispy waffle layers. In the middle, there's a sweet, gooey caramel-like syrup filling.
These tasty treats first came from a town called Gouda in the Netherlands. That was way back in 1784! You can often find bigger stroopwafels sold by street vendors as a quick snack.
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How are Stroopwafels Made?
The waffle layers of a stroopwafel are made from a special dough. This dough has ingredients like flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, and eggs. The dough is pressed in a hot waffle iron until it's nice and crispy.
While the waffles are still warm, their edges are trimmed. This makes it easy to split each waffle into two thin halves. Then, a warm caramel filling is spread between the halves. This filling is made from syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.
Once the caramel is spread, the waffle halves are put back together. As the caramel cools down, it becomes firm. This helps to stick the two waffle layers together. Stroopwafels used to be about 10 cm wide. But now, you can find them in many sizes, from small to very large!
The Story of Stroopwafels
People say that stroopwafels were first made in Gouda, South Holland in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Bakers would use leftover dough scraps and crumbs. They would sweeten them with syrup to create these new cookies.
One story says a baker named Gerard Kamphuisen invented the stroopwafel. He opened his bakery in 1810. The oldest known recipe for syrup waffles is from 1840. So, the invention likely happened sometime between those years.
For a long time, stroopwafels were only found in Gouda. By 1870, there were about 100 bakers making them in the city! After 1870, stroopwafels started to appear in other Dutch cities.
In the 1900s, factories began making stroopwafels. By 1960, Gouda alone had 17 stroopwafel factories. Today, you can buy stroopwafels at markets, from street vendors, and in supermarkets. Since 2016, even United Airlines has been serving them as a breakfast snack on some flights!
Other Yummy Waffles
You can find other cookies in the Netherlands that are similar to stroopwafels. Some are called honingwafels, which means "honey waffles." They use honey instead of syrup for the filling.
There are also stroopkoeken, or "syrup cookies." These are cookies with a caramel syrup inside. Sometimes, the leftover pieces and crumbs from making stroopwafels are sold in candy cones as a sweet treat!
Stroopwafels in Pop Culture
Stroopwafels even made it onto TV! In September 2017, an episode of The Great British Bake Off featured stroopwafels. The people on the show had to bake them. But many of them found it very difficult! Some even called it one of the hardest challenges in the show's history.
Pictures of Stroopwafels
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A ball of dough is placed on a waffle iron to make the waffle for a stroopwafel
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A packet of store-bought stroopwafels
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Two stroopwafels
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Stroopwafels on a saucer
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Stroopkoeken or "syrup cookies"
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Want to Learn More?
In Spanish: Stroopwafel para niños
